From Leonard Darwin to G. H. Darwin 18 November 1876

Dear George

The Friday mails have left off again, and I have begun my regular Sunday letter again. Just at present it is rather a bore being without mails as I should like to know how things are going on in the East. The Governor got a telegram the other morning, saying that England is preparing to sent an army to the East; it caused a little excitement at first, but when it came out that it was not official, no one believed a word of it.

We are going to get Noel out here in place of Smith, which is a great misfortune, he may have improved by this time but that is not likely. It will make the house a more unpleasant place for you if you think of coming  There will be only four in the house, so that there would be a room to spare. I am afraid I should not be much of a companion, unless my work alters a good deal, which, however, it is likely to do, as I shall hand over Fort Pembroke to Capt. White the new captain, who comes here in December, in place of Vetch. Vetch and Smith have been expecting orders to go home for a long time, but two or three troopers having broken down, they wont get away till December. We have got the usual number of visitors this winter but none of the old set. I hear that Mis Truscott's engagement is a deep secret and that the pas and mas on both sides object. The other engagements are Scobie & Miss Hamilton, Hay and Miss Carthew, but I dont think you knew either of them.

I see myself put down in the Malta Almanack as ""Assisting the Commanding Royal Engineer in designing new works"". At present I have Bengemma, which is only visited once a month Pembroke which is in full swing, Sheina Battery nearly finished, and Madalena which is just commenced, so that my hands are quite full.

Smith has just had the most awful row with D^r. Bourke, the latter saying that he is going to report Smith to the CRE for impertinence, but I dont think he will, as he was so clearly in the wrong at the beginning of the row that he had better keep quiet. The dear Duchess is at Antonio, which Capt. Douglas did up for them, and he is consequently rather thick there  She seems nice by all account; some one who was dining there the other day, said it was the most free and easy dinner he had had in Malta, with noisy round games after dinner. I hear also that the Duke laughs at the idea of war with Russia, he is a great hater of the Germans which is curious. I wonder what would happen to us here in case of war, I suppose we should watch the troopers going East with a sort of melancholy satisfaction. Eng passang, if war should bust out, send me a good revolver, as they cant be got here.

Your affec broth | L. Darwin